Deputy Director Chief Research Officer

This role is being advertised alongside another Technical Leadership role (DD S&T) within GCHQ’s Directorate of Research and Engineering (DRE). See ‘to apply’ below for how to apply for one or more of these roles.  

Science, Technology, Research and Innovation (STRI) is vital to GCHQ and the National Security community. Our ability to conduct cutting edge research and pull through innovative technologies and methods is fundamental to our mission. GCHQ has a rich and proud history of world class STRI which has underpinned our mission capability. Technology and target advancement are making this ever more critical, and it is vitally important that we keep up with - and ahead of - the outside world. We are working with a growing range of partners outside GCHQ in a range of different ways to increase the pace and impact of our research.

As Chief Research Officer, you will be responsible for the Science and Technology Research Team.  Setting direction for the team, fostering a centre-of-excellence culture and outreaching to partners. We are proud of the neurodiversity within our community and the CRO is responsible for setting the environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver successful outcomes.  We are committed to distributed working - the S&T Research team is already hybrid working (from office and home) and has a presence across the UK (including Cheltenham and Manchester) and overseas.

You will be focused on creating an inclusive environment for your team to succeed. You will be at the forefront of directing and supporting transformation within this S&T Research Business Unit. You will set direction on areas of research in Horizon 2 and 3, coupled closely to GCHQ 2025 ambition. You will build strong relationships with your GCHQ STRI colleagues, ensuring complementary portfolios of work. External Partnerships will also be strong focus for your role. Given the nature of the work you will need to be comfortable with the ambiguity of the evolving technical landscape and able to make the connections between deep technical details and national strategy.


Responsibilities of the role include:

•Creating an environment that through being inclusive, welcoming and representative of the society we serve, delivers impact.

•Being an active member of the leadership team in DRE it is really important you work closely with the Senior Tech community.

•Accountability for the Science & Technology Research Team

•Setting direction for your teams Research Programme  

•Leading your teams’ Transformation agenda

•Initiating and leading research activity with HMG and International partners

•Maintaining and growing senior relationships across GCHQ, UKIC (UK Intelligence Community), International, Industry and Academia. With particular focus on US and Industry.

This is an exciting role with opportunity to have impact at scale. At a time of significant transformation and volatility, your personal leadership skills and experience will be tested on a regular basis but you will be part of a supportive and inclusive team.

Requirements for the role:

You will need to show a proven track record or show the potential to: 

•Exemplify GCHQ Values and inclusive, supportive leadership. Passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion.

•Leading and inspiring a dedicated, neurodiverse research team to realise their potential.

•Set direction and take difficult decisions. Communicate this in a manner that promotes optimism and co-operation.

•Passion and curiosity for Technology and Research, understanding how it fits in a complex mission environment. Ability to apply that to inform entrepreneurial decision making and clear communications.

•Be willing to question constructively at all levels and make the difficult choices needed to meet future demands.

•Build collaborative relationships and improve existing ones, both within Government and with international, academic and industry partners.

•Maintain technical credibly, including by spending 20% time doing hands on technical work.  

Essential skills & experience:

•EDI - a track record of delivering EDI impact

•Research/Technology skills- This role requires a mix of both deep technical credibility and strategic leadership. You will be an experienced strategic leader and a thought leader within your technical profession. You will inspire a technical workforce to embrace the fast-paced change in STRI – anticipating and setting technical direction. It is essential that you can that you can demonstrate a track-record of deep technical understanding and application. You will have experience of delivering research with wide and enduring impact. Appropriate qualifications include Fellowship of professional bodies such as BCS, IET.

SCS1 Skills & Competencies:

This role is particularly focused on the following competencies: 

•Seeing the Big Picture (essential)

•Changing and Improving

•Making Effective Decisions

•Leadership (essential)

•Working together (essential)

We also expect all of our senior leaders to demonstrate a commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Working for GCHQ
 
Diversity and inclusion are critical to our partnership and mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodiverse conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce. 

The post will involve high and low side work and could be based from Manchester or Cheltenham with lots of opportunity for home/low side working. The role involves UK and overseas travel. It will lead multi-site teams in Cheltenham, Manchester, London and overseas.

To apply

Applicants should include: 
 
•Personal statement - max one A4 side, setting out why you want the role and what you would bring
•Short CV - max two A4 sides, including technical skills, career history

If you wish to apply for more than one of the roles being advertised concurrently (DD S&T, Chief Research Officer) you only need to send one CV but include a personal statement for each role.

Selection process and timetable

The expected timetable is below, but is subject to change:
Applications close - 23:00 on Friday 28th January 2022
Interview - w/c 14th February 2022